Resilient action jumping toy



July 20, 1965 s, v, s s 3,195,890

RESILIENT ACTION JUMPING TOY Filed June 4, 1962 INVENTOR. SELON V. SALLSFIG] United States Patent 3,15,890 RESILIENT ACTIUN JUMHNG TQY Selon V.Sails, 3040 The Mall, Los Angeles 23, Calif. Filed June 4, 1962, Ser.No. 199,711 1 Claim. (Cl. 271-57) thereof which, in turn, is providedthereunder with effcctively compressible elastic energy-storing meansadapted for forcible intermittent impact and engagement with anunderlying ground surface as a result of the corresponding movements ofa child standing upon said platform means. This intermittent impact andengagement with an underlying ground surface causes the effectivelycompressible elastic energy-storing means to intermittently elasticallystore energy immediately after impact with said ground surface and tovery shortly thereafter release said energy whereby to provide anoscillatory movement to the platform and the upstanding framework meansconnected thereto.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a jumping toy of thebroad generic type referred to above,

and one which may, if desired, assume any or all of the various specificaspects mentioned above, and/or any partial combination thereof.

It is a further object to provide a jumping toy which is of relativelysimple, foolproof, easy-to-use, and easyto-manufacture construction suchas to be conducive to widespread use thereof-particularly by unskilledchildren and beginners in the use of such jumping toys.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of the invention butnot specifically limiting it) and said objects will be apparent topersons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detaileddescription which follows thereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention,several exemplary embodiments are illustrated .in the hereinbelowdescribed figures of the accompanying drawings and are described indetail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken inthe direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, generally similar to the bottomportion of FIG. 2, but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

PEG. 3A is an enlarged view exemplary of any one of the multiple coilcompression springs shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view very similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates amodified form of the invention.

,FIG. 5 illustrates, in a greatly reduced-size perspective view, aslight modification of the first form of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates in fragmentary perspective form and in greatlyreduced size, a slight modification of the first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view illustrating oneexemplary form of joint construction for the upper framework means inthose forms of the invention where it is not of unitary construction butis formed 'of a plurality of tubular sections appropriately joinedtogether by a substantially cruciform junction member. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2 for exemplary purposes,

one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in one typicalexemplary form wherein it comprises upstanding framework ineans,generally indicated by the reference numeral 11, which is provided withfoot-engageable platform means 12 at the bottom thereof.

In the exemplary form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, theupstanding framework means 11 is shown in a particular version thereofwherein it is of open-topped, substantially cylindrical configurationand may be said to define an open-topped, substantially cylindricalcage-like structure, which is generally designated by the referencenumeral 11 and which, in the example illustrated, is made up of aplurality of vertically spacedly superimposed circular ring-like framemembers 13 rigidly carried in said vertically spaced relationship by aplurality of circumferentially spaced vertical upstanding side framemembers 14 whereby to effectively define and enclose an interior region,generally indicated by the reference numeral 15, in which a child (notshown) is adapted to stand with his feet (not shown) resting upon theupper surface 16 of the foot-engageable platform means 12.

it should be noted that, in the specific example illustrated, thering-like frame members 13 and the vertical upstanding side framemembers 14 are shown as being of rigid, tubular, plastic, molded orextruded member construction. However, the invention is not specificallyso limited, and various other types of structural members,configurations or" the complete upstanding frame means 11, attachmentconstructions, and materials may be employed in lieu of the specificdisclosure of FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect thereto.

In the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, thefoot-engageable platform means 12 is shown as being of substantiallycircular, disk-like shape and is rigidly fastened to, and carried by,the bottom ring-like frame member 13 of the framework means 11 wherebyto pro vide a very effective platform for a child to stand on when hisbody is at least partially enclosed within the cage-like framework means11. When 'in this position, the child will usually hold onto one of thering-like frame members 13 which may be said to comprise effective handrail means for hand engagement by the child when he uses the entiredevice as a jumping toy.

The bottom end of the framework means 11 and the foot-engageableplatform means 12 is provided with effectively compressible elasticenergy-storing means carried below the platform means 12 for forcibleintermittent effective impact and engagement with respect to asubstantially horizonal underlying ground surface whereby tointermittently elastically store energy upon impact with said groundsurface and whereby to subsequently release said previously storedenergy in a manner such as to provide oscillatory movement to thefootthe above-mentioned effectively compressible elastic energy-storingmeans is generally designated by the reference numeral 17 and takes aparticular exemplary form wherein it comprises an auxiliary lowerground-engageable platform 18 (provided with a compressible elastomericimpact and shock absorbing lower bumper 19) positioned below thepreviously mentioned foot-engageable" upper platform means 12 andprovided with effectively intervening elastically compressible couplingmeans, indicated generally at 21, effectivelycoupling'thefoot-engageable upper platform means 12 and the ground-engageable lowertion, comprising'the lower ring-like frame member 13,

, of the. framework means 11 connected to said circumferential peripheryof the foot-engageable platform means 12. This provides a very firm andeffective coupling and supporting; engagement of the bottom of theframework means 11 and the foot-engageable platform means 12 withrespect to the elastically compressible hollow tubular memoer 21 wherebyto facilitate the hereinbefore described oscillatory intermittentbouncing and jumping action of the entire device when archild stands onthe foot-engageabie platform 11'; and intermittently flexes and extendshis knees in synchronism with corresponding energy-storing generally bythe reference numeral 21, which has an en- 7 closing wall member ZS ofelastic material 'definingfa completely enclosed hollow interior.chamber 24, of toroidal shape in the'example illustrated, adapted'to beprovided with and contain therein an elastically compressible fluid suchas airor the like, ,althoughnot specificailyv limited'to air in allforms of the invention. 1

7 It is tobe particularly understood that the cross-section -ofthejtoroidal hollow tubular member 21 shown in FIG. 7

2 and the hollow interior chamber shown'therein' at 24 is filled withair'in FIG. 2 for the purposeof interiorly supporting the enclosing Wall23 of said hollowtubular member 21. Said air may-be introduced into theinterior thereof, as indicated at 24, by way of a conventional-uniandenergy-releasing action of'the elastically compressible hollow tubularmember 21 whereby to produce an intermittent hopping or'jumping actionof the entire toy with respect to the ground'surface 22 as long as thechild continues theeabove described action. a 1

7 FIG. 1 also indicates, in broken line phantom form, the optionalprovision of an exterior, laterally directed, circumferential bumpermeans, indicated generallyvby the reference character B, whichis'shownas comprising another toroidal, hollow," sealed, interiorly. pressurized1 tube of elastic material positioned in a manner such that directionaltire check valve of the type indicated at 25 orby any other suitablemeans. through the use, of a' pressurized source of air, such as is Thismay be done the tipping over of the entire device'will cause said bumpermeans to receive the initial impact with the ground surface 22 wherebyto minimize any likelihood of the child being injured bythe fall.

FIG. 3 illustrates, in'fragmentary form, a slight modification of theeffectively compressible elastic energys'toring 'means, indicatedgenerally at 17 in the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2,'and indicated by the referencenumer'al 17a in this modificationof the-invention. Indeed, because of thebasic similarity conventionallyfound at automobile andmotor vehicle service stations, garages, and the1ike,"or may be done through theuse of a hand or foot operated pump ofany conventional type, or'the elastically compressible. fiuid mightcomprise carbon dioxide gas, Freon, orany other' suitable compressed gasor fiuid which can be conveniently V obtained in pressure vessels, andcan be conveniently applied to the valve 25 for pressurizing. the hollowinterior chamber of the'hollowtubular member 21, as indicated at 24. j

, Of course, it will be understood that if the tubeizl is to becollapsed, the undirectional check valve 25 may be .controllablymanually operated in a valve-openingdirection whereby to allow theentrapped air, or other compressed gas, to escape and thereby result inthe tube 21 collapsing to any desired degree. This would nor- ,mallyonly be done for purposes of repairing-the tube .r a, however.

ofthis modification to the first form previously described, "allfunctionallycorresponding parts are indicated by corresponding referencenumerals, followed by the letter In the modification shown in FIG. 3,the elastic energystoring means 17a includes the lower auxiliarygroundengageable platform means 18a, functionally similar to theauxiliary ground-engageable platform means 18 in the first form of theinvention. However, in this modification the elastically compressiblecoupling means 21a does notcompriseahollow tubular member, such as shownin the first form of the inventiom'but rather comprises elasticallycompressible compression spring means, indi- .for convenience in storageand/or shipment of the toy. v The elastically compressiblehollow-tubular membereffectively retaining the effectively compressibleelastic energy-storing means, indicated generally'at 17, in theassembled relationship shown.

p In theexemplary version illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, 7 said retainingmeans is indicated generally at 26xand is illustrated in one exemplaryform as comprising a plural- ,ity of strap means 27 adapted to encompasscorresponding "21 of the exemplary first version of the inventionillustrated in FIGS.-1 and 2 includes retaining means for portions ofthe elasticallycompressible hollow Ytubular member 21, correspondingportions of the lower ring-like frame member 13 of the frameworkmeanslLcorresponding edge portions of the foot-engageable platform means12, and corresponding portions, of the lower auxiliary ground-engageableplatform 18 whereby to fasten said elements together. whenthe strapmeans 27 is controllably tightly fastened by means of the buckle means28. In the exemplary form illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elasticallycompressible hollow tubular member 21' is provided wtih an inner annulareffective step portion 29' which effectively abuttingly receives thecircumferential periphery of the disk-like bottom of the foot-engageableplatform means .12 f and the corresponding bottom porcated generallybythereference numeral 21a, located at, and coupled with respect to, aplurality of vertically super- :impose'd points of the underneathsurface of the foot-engageable platform means 12a and the upper surfaceof the auxiliary. lower ground-engageable platform 18a whereby toprovide the. elastically compressible functional equivalent of thehollow tubular member 21 in the first form of the invention. 1

The lower ground-cngageable platform means 18a is provided with acircumferential upwardly directed skirt member 31 provided mainly formaintaining alignment of the lower, ground-engageable platformflSa withrespect to the upper foot-engageable platform means 12a. However, incertain forms of the invention, the skirt 31 may be inodified oreliminated entirely. Y

7 It should also be noted that in the modified form of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 3, each of the coil compression springs 21a isconnected .by suitable fastener means 32 to the foot-engageableplatforms means 12a and the ground-engageable platform means 18a wherebyto positively connect them together ina retaining manner so as to retainthe; elastic energy-storing means 17a in assembled relationshipirrespective of the degree of energy-storing and energy-releasingrelative compression and extension, movement of thelowergroundengageable platform 518a with respect to the'upperfoot-engageable platform means 124. However, various other types ofretaining means may be employed in lieu thereof and, in certain of suchcases, the coil compression springs 21 need not be actually fastened bythe fastener 32 to the platforms 12a and 18a.

The spacing of the multiple coil compression springs 21a may be such asto effectively distribute the compressive load in a most efiicientmanner.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in fragmentary form, a very slight modification ofthe elastic energy-storing means indicated generally by the referencenumeral 17 in the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2. Therefore, in this slight modification thereof, similar referencenumerals, followed by the letter 15, however, are employed to designatesimilar parts.

This modification is substantially the same as the first formillustrated in FIGS/'1 and 2 except that the lower auxiliaryground-engageable platform 18 of the first form of the invention iseliminated entirely in this modification and the retaining strap means26b directly fasten the hollow tubular member 21b to the peripheralouter portion of the foot-engageable platform 12b and the bottomring-like member 131) of the framework means 11b for direct impact ofthe bottom surface of the hollow tubular elastically compressible member21b with a ground surface.

Since the remainder of this form of the invention is identical to thefirst form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and describedin detail hereinbefore, further detailed description of thismodification would be redundant and is thought to be entirelyunnecessary.

FIG. 5 illlstrates, in a greatly reduced-size perspective view, a slightmodification of the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2, wherein the framework means 110 is the only portion which issubstantially different from the first form of the invention. In view ofthe similarity of this modification to the first form of the in vention,similar parts are indicated by similar reference numerals, followed bythe letter 0, however.

In this modification it will be noted that the frame-work means 110merely comprises what may be termed an upstanding structural member 14cwhich is substantially centrally positioned in this example, althoughnot 'specically so limited, and which is 'approapriately connected to acorresponding central portion of the foot-engageable platform means 120,although it may be connected at any location with respect thereto. Theremainder of this modified form is identical to the first formillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described in detail hereinbefore.Therefore, further description would be redundant and is thought to beentirely unnecessary.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, generally similar to a portionof FIG. 1, but illustrates a slight modification of the inventionwherein the framework means lid is provided with entry means, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 33, and which merely comprises anentry opening in the cage-like structure of the upper framework means]lld. This is shown in fragmentary form in solid lines in FIG. 6.However, in certain versions of the invention, it may be desirable toprovide an effective closure gate for closing the entry aperture 33 andone such typical exemplary closure gate (which may be provided withsuitable locking means if desired) is shown in broken lines at 34 inFIG. 6. It will be understood that the entry means and/ or closure gatemeans may be modi fied substantially within the basic spirit and scopeof the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in enlarged fragmentary form, one typical junction,generally designated by the reference numeral 35, adapted to fastentogether a plurality of hollow tubular members 36 by a press-fitengagement of the ends of each of said hollow tubular members 36 withthe corresponding ends of a substantially cruciform junction memberindicated generally at 37. This engagement may merely comprise a verytight press-fit or may include suitable adhesive, cohesive or mechanicalfastening means, or the like, for enhancing the rigidity of the junctionso provided.

It should be clearly understood that this type of junction means merelyillustrates one arrangement by which the various members of theframework means 11 of the first form of the invention, or thecorresponding framework means of any of the other forms of theinvention, may be constructed in the event that it is to be made oftubular members rigidly joined together to comprise the completeframework means rather than being made up of a rigidly formed frameworkmeans. However, both constructions, and various other equivalents, areintended to be included and comprehended within the broad scope of thepresent invention and this junction means, shown in FIG. 7, merelyillustrates one means for cheapening the construction of the device byallowing conventional tubing of various suitable materials to be joinedtogether by cruciform shaped junction members, or the equivalentthereof, in order to provide an extremely rigid framework structurewithout the necessity of having molds for molding the complete frameworkmeans, or substantial portions thereof, as a whole.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invent-ion to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hcreinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

A jumping toy comprising: upstanding framework means fixedly providedwith a substantially horizontal, substantially circular, disk-shapedfoot-engageable platform means at the bottom thereof having asubstantially horizontal foot-engageable top surface of larger area thanthat adapted to be coextensive with the feet of a person supportedthereby; and effectively compressible elastic energy-storing meanscarried immediately below said platform means for forcible intermittenteffective impact and engagement with an underlying ground surfacewhereby to intermittently elastically store energy upon impact thereofwith said ground surface and to subsequently release said elasticallystored energy whereby to provide a vertical oscillatory movement to saidfoot-engageable platform means and said framework means carried thereby,said elastic energy-storing means comprising effective groundengageableelastically compressible coupling means positioned immediately belowsaid foot-engageable platform means for effectively coupling saidfoot-engageable platform means directly with respect to said underlyingground surface for relative longitudinal movement of saidfoot-engageable platform means toward and away from said underlyingground surface, said elastically compressible coupling means comprisingan elastically compress ible hollow tubular member of toroidal shapehaving an enclosing wall member of flexible material defining acompletely enclosed hollow interior chamber of toroidal shape adapted tobe provided with and contain an elastically compressible medium therein,said elastically compressible hollow tubular member being provided withan effectively inner annular step portion directly receiving andsupporting a corresponding circumferential peripheral portion of thedisk-like bottom of said foot-engageable platform means, saidelastically compressible hollow tubular member also being provided witha circularly disposed bottom and ground-engageable contact surfaceportion directly and vertically spacedly underlying said circumferentialperipheral portion of said disk-like bottom of said footengageableplatform means and positioned for direct impact and contact with saidunderlying ground surface during said oscillatory movement of saidfoot-engageable platform means and said framework means, said elasticenergy-storing means also including a plurality of retaining strap meansremovably encircling corresponding portions of said elasticallycompressible hollow tubular member and said foot-engageable platformmeans positioned immediately thereover for retaining said elastically1,632,348 6/ 27' Prior 248-.350 X compressible hollow tubular member inoperative rela-- 1,688,071 10/28 Golf 9438 'tionship immediately belowsaid circumferential peripheral 1,741,323 12/29 -Lufkin s"; '943 8portion of the disk-like bottom of said foot-engageable 1,812,113 6/31Nelson"; 248 -22 platform means and for positioning said circularlyclis- [5 "2,761,155 9/56 Headly. posed bottom ground-engageable contactsurface portion 2,775,452, 12/56 Libra. I

of said coupling means at a lowermost position for direct Y 2,978,243*4/ 61 Gabrielson 272- 57 XR intermittent impact with said underlyingground surface FOREiGN PATENTS during said oscillatory movement thereof.t

1 149,931 5/48 Switzerland.

References Cited by the Examiner 7 659,280 "10/51 Great Britain. 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS v I RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

Jacquot W Exam ner 1,505,558 8/24 Gr abowski 248-350X 15

